Internal combustion engine



n.. P. ANTHQNY INTERNAL COMBUSTIDN ENGINE Filed @me 17, 1940 www atented Aug. 12, 1941 iNTENAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Leon l. Anthony, Los Angeles, Calif., Meixner or one-half to Mary Adeline Reynolds, Los Angoles, Calif.

Application June 17, 1940, Serial No.. 340,862

' 1l Cla ternal combustion engines and may be considered as an improvement over the disclosures made in my copending applications Serial No. 229,868 filed September 14, 1938, and Seri 1 No. 331,987, illed April 2?, 1940. i

In the above-mentioned applications I have disclosed an internal combustion engine having a telescopic connecting rod connecting the cranlbI shaft with the piston. A -fluid such as oil is supplied through the crankshaft to the interior or the connecting rod, and is entrapped in the connecting rod to hold or lock it against collapse when the engine is operating at any given speed the compression in the cylinder will remain substantially constant regardless of the degree oi throttle opening. In this manner, fuels which would otherwise be in danger of preigniting when used in a conventional engine operating at low speed but with a wide throttle opening, can be used without danger of preignition due to the fact that the coinpression in the cylinder does not vary with the throttle opening, or with the quantity or charge talren into the cylinder.

in the disclosures made in the above-mentioned applications, the crankshaft is equipped with a cam which serves to open a Valve to permit egress trom the telescopic connecting rod during upward strokes oi the piston, and the uuid or oil that is caused to be expelled trom the connecting rod is returned to the crankshaft. When a cam is used lol. 12a-rt) This ,invention relates to improvements in iny the number ci necessary parts and particularly the number of moving parts, is materially reduced.

Stili a. further object of the invention is to provide an engine having a telescopic connecting rod supplied with oil under pressurel from the crankshaft, wherein the expelled oil instead of being returned to the crankshaft is expelled from adjacent the top oi the connecting rod and returned to the cranhcase. In this way oil is taken into the connecting rod from the cranlrshait and progresses through the connecting rod until ultimately expelled. with the result that the oil in the connecting rod is being constantly replaced with fresh oil.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will he made manifest in the following detailed description and specically ypointed out in the appended claims, reference is hadv to the ac companying drawing for an illustratiye'embodiment oi the invention wherein: v

Figure l is a vertical section through a piston and through the telescopic coecting rod embodying the present invention whichis illustrated as connected to a portion oi a crankshaft;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View talren .nibstantiallyv upon'thc line l-t upon Fig. l, the dotted lines indicating the position oi the connecting rod with respect to the wrist pin of the' piston during an upward strolre ci the piston; and v Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation, parte being broken away and shown in vertical section illustrating a slightly modined form which may he lili on the crankshaft to open the valve to permit i egress, a special construction or crankshaft is required. f

it is an object oil-the present invention to 'prom Vide an improved internal combustion engine wherein the euective length ci the connecting rod may be varied to adjust itseli ior various charges oi iuel talren into the cylinder, which does not reduire a special construction of crankshaft or a cam on the crankshaft which will open the connesting rod to permit egress therefrom on upward strolres or the piston. in this way the present invention may be incorporated in an engine haring a conventional construction oi crankshaft, without requiring rnodihcation or alteration oi the crankshaft. Y 1

smother object' oi the invention is to provide a highly siinplided form. or construction, wherein dit optionally employed oi the inner telescopic ineinber ci the connecting rod.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, iii indicates a main bearing oi an engine for the crankshaft l l. The cranhshait may be oi any conventional or preferred design,

but in accordance with present common practice it should be supplied with oil under' substantially constant pressure throughsu tube il from an oil pump, not shown. The oil supplied under pressure through tube i2 finds ingress to the hollow l interior oi' the cranlrshart through portait, and is deliyeredyto outlet ports iii inthe cranlr pins, one oi' which is illustrated at iii.

The improved connecting rod comprises an indicated at I9 or otherwise permanently secured to the wrist pin bearing 20, which surrounds the wrist pin 2| of the piston 22. The inner telescopic member I8 is designed to be inserted through the lower end of the outer telescopic member I9`when the cap of bearing I1 is removed. Suitable kerfs 23 are formed in its lower end, to enable the application of a suitable wrench for screwing the upper end of the inner telescopic member into the wrist pin bearing. When tightened in place small welds I9 may be formed in apertures in the sides of the wrist pin bearing, to permanently fasten the inner telescopic member thereto.

Following the insertion of the inner telescopic member a cage 24 is inserted into the outer telescopic member I6, which is held against a shoulder 26 by means of a valve seat 26. The Valve seat provides'a guide 21 for the stem 28 of a check valve 29, urged into closed position by a compression spring 30 compressed between the cage 24 and the top of the valve. The valve seat 29 is held in position by means of a nut 9|, screwed into the bottom of the outer telescopic member I9.

It is preferable to assemble the parts above described prior to finishing the interior of bearing I'I', so that on finishing the interior of the bearing the bottom of the nut 3| will be simultaneously finished flush withthe interior of the bearing.

The bearing insert 32 is then inserted into the bearing in the form of inserts, and serves -to lock the nut 3l in place. In this bearing metal there is formed a channel or annular groove 33, which receives the oil from the outlet ports I4; and conveys it through nut BI to the underside of the check valve 29.

Within the inner telescopic member there is formed a valve seat 34. for a valve 35, urged into closed position by means of a spring 39. The outerteiesoopic member I6 has adjacent its top diametrically opposed bosses 31, slidable in slots 38 in a skirt 39, formed-integral with orattached vto the wrist pin bearing 29'. These bosses which are slidable in the slots 39, merely provide a form of splined or keyed connection holding the wrist the oil pump, not shown, through tubing I2. From the interior of the crankshaft the oil is conveyed to the underside of check valve 29. Whenever the oil pressure on the underside of check valve 29 is in excess of the oil pressure within the telescopic connecting rod the check valve opens, to substantially equalize the pressure between the crankshaft and the connecting rod. Aperture 4I is so arranged in the wrist pin 2|, that it will be closed by aperture 40 when the crankshaft is approximately 10 in advance of its dead center position with the piston at the top of its stroke. It remains closed throughout the downward stroke of the piston, until the crankshaft has reached a position approximately 10 beyond the dead center position at the bottom of the piston stroke. During the upward stroke the connecting rod assumes a position approaching that illustrated in dotted lines on Fig. 2, so that during the major portionof the upward stroke aperture 4I is opened by aperture d0, to afford egress from the interior of the telescopic connecting rod. Consequently, if the engine is operating at low speed with a small throttle opening causing only a small charge of fuel to be taken into the cylinder, the oil pressure conveyed to the interior of the telescopic connecting rod serves to expand or lengthen the connecting rod, with the result that under these conditions the piston at the top of its stroke moves quite high in the cylinder, maintaining a, predetermined compression in the ycylinder even though the fuel charge taken therein is small. The degree of compression maintained in the cylinder under these conditions, depends upon or is commensurate with the strength of spring 36, and the force with which'it urges vvalve 35 to close.

. The strength of this lspring will of course have pin bearing 29 in parallel relationship with the crank pin Il, regardless of the lengthening or shortening of the connecting rod.

In the bottom of the wrist pin bearing 29 there is formed an outlet aperture 4|-, which can be moved into or out of registration with an aperture 4I formed in the wrist Din 2I. The wrist pin u is locked against rotation within the pis-- ton by means of a set'screw 42, which may be equipped with a -iamb nut 43. In the preferred form of construction registering apertures 44 and 49 are formed in a wrist pin boss of the piston 22 and in the wrist pin 2I adjacent the end thereof. It will be noted lthat the bottom of the I inner telescopic member I9, is enlarged forming 'ashoulder 49. Adjacent this enlargement a subtantlal clearance 41 ispresent between the bot-l tom of the inner telescopic member and the interior of the outer telescopic member I4. However, immediately thereabove the interior of the outer telescopic member'is tapered asat 49 to a cylindrical surface 49. which closely ilts 4the exterior of the enlarged bottom of the inner telescopie member I9.

n The operation and advantages of the improved internal combustionr engine are asfollows. 011

is continuously supplied at substantially co tant pressure tothe interior vof thecrankshaft rom to be varied with the degree of compression that it is desired to maintain in the cylinder.

If, when the engine is operating at low speed the throttle .is opened considerably, so as to take into the cylinder a much larger volumetric charge of fuel, on the compression stroke of the piston, apertures 49 and 4I are open, and oil may und egress therethrough permitting the telescopic connecting rod to eectively shorten, and thus lower the position of the piston when at the top of its stroke, so as to keep the compression in the cylinder substantially the same even though a larger charge of fuel is taken therein. During the explosion or power strokes it will be noted that the outlet from the'connecting rod is closed, and as oil in -the connecting rod cannot escape therefrom during the downward stroke and the oil is substantially incompressible, the connecting rod is eiIectlvely locked' against collapse transmitting the forces imposed on the piston by the exploding fuel tothe crank pin Il. In this form of construction It will be appreciated that the. wrist pin aperture 4I and the wrist pin bearing aperture 49 form a type of rotary valve, which is gradually or slowly closed as the piston reaches the top of its stroke. The slow closing of this valve is advantageous, in that when the telescopic connecting rod is locked or closed against egress of oil therefrom no sudden locking takes place, and there consequently is no severe strain placed on the parts or any tendency to -knock on the closing of the connecting rod. The

the wrist pin, the effect of the explosion on'the top or the piston is such as to force the wristI pinl tightly. against the bottoni ofthe Wrist pin bearme. and thus maintain the valve tight during the power stroke. It will be' appreciated that during the power stroke it is important to prevent leakage from the connecting rod.

When the engine is operating at high speeds,: the length of time that aperture 60 is open isA reduced for each cycle of operation. While this aperture is sufficiently large to adequately conectarse vey oil therethroughl when the engine is under.

slow speed, at high speeds the sizel ofthe aperture together with the short period of opening causes the aperture to serve somewhat as a choke, retarding the ready ow of oil through' this outlet, 'I'he oil thus being 'retarded or to some extent kept Within the telescopic member, I observe under these conditions a material increase in compression. -That is. the compression yin the cylinder when the engine is operating at high speed, is materially increased over that. existing in the cylinder when the engine is operating at low speed. However, under any given set of speed conditions, the compression is substantially the same regardless of`whether the throttle is open or nearly closed. The increase in compression at high speeds is unobjectionable for the reason that when the engine is operating at high speed there is little danger of the fuel preigniting, and burning before the piston starts upon its down or working stroke. Under. most conditions" the increase in compression during high speed is not only unobjectionable but highly 'sudden jar is imposed on the locking of the connecting rod near the start oi' the power stroke.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In an internal combustion engine, a crankshaft and a piston, a telescopic connecting rod connecting the crankshaft with the wrist pin of the piston, means for supplying oil under pressure through the` crankshaft to the interior of the telescopic connecting rod, means for entrapping the oil therein to resist collapse or shortening of the connecting rod during downward strokes of the piston, anld means foropening the telescopic connecting rod for egress therefrom g through the wrist pin of the piston during updesirable, because of the additional power that` can he derived.

If desired, the spring tt and the valve may l he omitted entirely. I have illustrated the modined form of construction in Fig. 3, wherein t'he inner telescopic member its is not equipped with any valve seat corresponding to valve seat tt, and does notcontain anyvalve tt or any spring tt. In this form oi construction the aperture tto corresponds to aperture lit, except that it is materially smaller in size, so that even at comparatively low speeds this orince on account of its size will have a. choking 'or retarding eect upon the oil that is expelled therethrough. In this form of construction as above explained, there is a highly noticeable increase in compression in the cylinder when the engine is operating at high speeds over` the compression that exists in the cylinder'at low speeds. y l

When the engine is operating .at high speeds, the inertia or momentum of the piston as it approaches the top of its stroke is such as to tend to cause the pulling apart of the telescopic connecting rod.. To prevent the external shoulder adjacent the bottom of the inner telescopic memloer it engaging the opposed shoulder on the interior oi the outer telescopic memher it the shoulder on passing by the taper dll and entering the closely tting cylindrical surface (it, serves to entran a small amount of oil in this space. This oil acts somewhat as a liquid 'cushion, preventing direct metal-to-metal contact ioetween there shoulders and prevents separating movement of the inner and. outer telescopic members lit and it, so that no shoulder-toshouider contact is possible.. Normally the enlargest portion at :the bottom of the incr telescopic 'memloer it uctuates up and down below the bottom of the cylindrical surface llt.

.tuoni the above-described construction it will' he appreciated that the invention has a relatively small number of parte, and that the numher of moving parts is materially reduced. Furtherward strokes of the piston.

2. -In an internal combustion engine, a crankshaft and a piston, a telescopic connecting rod connecting the crankshaft with the wrist pin of the piston, means for supplying oil under pressure through the crankshaft to the interior of the telescopic connecting rod. means for 'entrapy ping the oil therein to resist collapse or shortening of :the connecting rod during downward strokes of the piston, there being an outlet at the top of the telescopic connecting rod adapted to he opened and closed in accordance with the angular relation of the connecting rod to the piston.

3. In an internal combustion engine, a crankshaft and a piston, a telescopic connecting rod connecting the crankshaft with the wrist pin of the piston, means for supplying oil under pressure through the crankshaft to the interior of the telescopic connecting rod, means for entrapping the oil therein to resist collapse or shortening of the connecting rod during l'downward strokes ofthe piston, means for opening the telescopic connecting rod for egress therefrom through the wrist pin of the piston during upward strokes of the piston, and means for regulating the flow through the outlet when the outlet is` open.

t. In an internal combustion engine, a crankshaft and a piston, a telescopic connecting rod, means for supplying oil under pressure through the crankshaft to the interior of the `telescopic connecting rod, o, check valve preventing return iow from the coi-imitatingv rod to the'crankshait, and means peirnitting'egress from the connecting rod through the wrist pin of the piston only during upward strokes of the piston.

5. lin an internal combustion engine, a crankshaft and a piston, a telescopic connecting rod, means for supplying oil under pressure through the crankshaft to the interior of the telescopic connecting rod, achcck valve preventing return flow from the connecting rod to the crankshaft, means permitting egress from the connecting rod through the wrist pin of the piston only during upward strokes of the piston, and means regulating the rate of flow through the connecting rod when egress is permitted.

6. In an internal combustion engine, a. crankshaft and a piston, a telescopic connecting rod, means for supplying oil under pressure through the crankshaft to the interior of the telescopic connecting rod, a check valve preventing return flow from the connecting rod to the crankshaft, means permitting egress from the connecting rod through the wrist pin of the piston only during upward strokes of the piston, and means regulating the rate of flow through. the connecting rod when egress is permitted, comprising a spring-closed valve.

7. In an internal combustion engine, 'a crankshaft and a piston, a telescopic connecting rod, means for supplying oil under pressure through the crankshaft to the interior of the telescopic connecting rod, a check valve preventing return ow from the connecting rod to the crankshaft, means permitting egress from the connecting rod through the wrist pin of the piston only during upward strokes of the piston, and means regulating the rate of flow through the connecting rod when egress is permitted, comprising a restricted orifice.

8. In an internal combustion engine, a crankshaft and a piston, a telescopic connecting rod connecting the crankshaft with the wristl pin of the piston, means for supplying oil under pressure through the crankshaft to-the interior of the telescopic connecting rod, means for entrapping vthe oil therein to` resist' collapse or shortening of the connecting rod during downward strokes of the piston, andmeans providing a rotary type valve for opening the telescopic connecting rod for egress therefrom during upward strokes of the piston.

9. In an internal combustion engine. a crankshaft and a piston, a telescopic connecting rod connecting the vcrankshaft with the wrist pin of the piston, means for supplying oil under pressure through the crankshaft to thevinterior of the telescopic connecting rod, means for entrapping the oil therein to resist collapse or shortening of the connecting rod during downward strokes of the piston, and means providing a rotary type valve, a part of which is formed by the wrist pin of the piston i'or opening the telescopic connecting rod for egress therefrom during upward strokes of the piston.

10. In an internal combustion engine, a crankshaft and a piston, a telescopic connecting rod, means for supplying oil under pressure through the crankshaft to the interior of the telescopic connecting rod, a check valve preventing return iiow from the connecting rod to the crankshaft, and means providing a rotary type valve for opening the telescopic connecting rod for egress therefrom during upward strokes of the piston.

11. In an internal combustion engine, a crankshaftl and a piston, a telescopic connecting rod,

means for supplying oil under pressure through the crankshaft to the interior of the telescopic connecting rod, a check valve preventing return fiow from the connecting rod to the crankshaft, and means providing a rotary type valve, a part of which is formed by the wrist pin of the piston for opening the telescopic connecting rod for egress therefrom only during upward strokes of the piston. e

LEON P. ANTHONY. 

